America’s Song: What Is It?
Did Woody Guthrie write America's song?
When I’ve traveled internationally and found myself in the company of travelers who are also away from home, it seems that singing often ensues. Whether we’re sitting around a campfire in the Australian outback or in a rowboat on a tributary of the Yangtze river, there comes a time when everyone sings the song from their country. It’s the one that everyone knows, but it’s not the national anthem. It’s often a children’s song or a soccer fans’ chant. It’s usually simple, happy, pretty, and is often punctuated by an exclamation of some sort.
And then it’s my turn.
My mind races through my personal jukebox: nope, that’s a Beatles song; nope, too hard to sing; nope, that one’s actually a French song that we Americanized.
I’ve ended up with “You Are My Sunshine,” a couple times, which at least meets the happy, simple criteria. Upon reflection, I’ve thought that the best choice might have been “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It’s got the “one, two, three strikes you’re out!” exclamation going for it. Or maybe “This Land Is Your Land”?
My question for you, American travelers, is this: In these situations, what do you sing? And can we decide on one song that will be published in all the guidebooks so that none of us will have to face this awkward choice again? The nominations for America’s Song are now open.
Photo from the Library of Congress. Taken by Al Aumuller for World Telegram.
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American Pie
God Bless America
America the Beautiful
Keep on Truckin
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
New York, New York
Just to get things started….
The Monster
30 Sep 09 at 10:42 am
Rockin in the USA John Mellencamp
Born in the USA Springteen
The Monster
30 Sep 09 at 6:47 pm
What a Wonderful World
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Jimmy
30 Sep 09 at 8:26 pm
My immediate thought is Iko Iko. Growing up in New Orleans, we always sang Iko Iko whether on school field trips or girl scout outings. It is the perfect campfire song! Alas, it might be too regional?
Lauren
1 Oct 09 at 3:17 pm
I loooooooove Iko Iko!
The Monster
6 Oct 09 at 3:41 pm
Cat’s Cradle by Harry Chapin
I sang that song all the way across Europe-East and West-in the mid to late ’80’s and I still find myself singing it when I head out into other areas of the world!
Sandee Macht
6 Oct 09 at 6:31 pm
So funny you’re discussing this! I talked about this with a friend of mine–for me, anything by Creedence Clearwater Revival–particularly “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” defines America–rock riffs, political undertones, and you’d be hard pressed to find someone in America who has never heard it/knows most of the words. Plus, most people in other countries have heard it to.
It’s a little long, but most people know the main verse…
Maybe it’s a weird choice, but it’s what I think of when I think of the USA.
Yael
7 Oct 09 at 7:22 am
…or maybe Oh, Susannah!
Yael
7 Oct 09 at 7:23 am
Great suggestions. I always had trouble busting out the rock songs for the reason Yael describes: they’re a little long. It often takes a while to get to the singalong part. Iko, Iko, and Oh, Susannah, though…those get you there quick. Now if I can just remember to remember those when the time comes.
Jeremy Saum
13 Oct 09 at 11:34 am
Years ago, I heard that John Denver took a tour of China, and was forever being asked to play and sing “Jingle Bells”.
As for me, the situation hasn’t come up yet. The most “international” travel I’ve done has been to Puerto Rico with my school choir, and to Ireland. My choir learned two Puerto Rican folk songs for the occasion and sang them in concert, and then the four guys who had a band played “Twist and Shout.” Then in Ireland, everyone was more intrigued that I knew so many Irish songs myself that we just sang those.
Although, I’ve by now gotten “The Erie Canal” and “Pay Me My Money Down” under my belt.
Kim W.
14 Oct 09 at 6:21 am
How about “Home on the Range?” You get to the chorus quickly and it’s easy to sing and learn. It’s a little short, however, if you know only the first verse. Before I go traveling I must make it a point to learn the other verses
Elaine Saum
30 Oct 09 at 12:42 pm
Bob Marley, Three Little Birds, not exactly American but a great song. I was in Nepal and they knew it there, they knew it in Taiwan, and they knew it in Africa. How about something by Johnny Cash or Van Morrison? Brown Eyed Girl? I love sing alongs!
Trista
4 Nov 09 at 9:43 pm